Owner who called 911 on cat thinks storms, fireworks and ‘going into heat’ caused feline to attack

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – An Orlando couple thinks a perfect storm is to blame for their house cat going on a rampage, attacking the husband and wife so badly that they had to retreat and causing them to retreat to their bedroom.

WKMG reports that Teresa Gregory still has bruises, bites and scars from when her cat attacked her in her in her Volusia County home.

“She’s biting me, biting me and clawing me, all at the same time…and like hissing, so he grabbed her,” Teresa said.

Her husband James was left with even more bites and bruises and still cannot believe it happened.

“The cat bit, and it clawed, and I could get the cat a little ways away, and it would run right back and just jump me and claw, and scratch me and bite,” James said.

The couple said they have owned the Russian Blue cat named Cush for four years and have never had a problem, but that last Saturday she attacked.

“It was lightning that day… The night before was the Fourth of July. There were fireworks all in the neighborhood — and also the cat had just went into heat, so I believe there was a combination of things that just sent the cat overboard,” James said.

After the first attack, they locked the cat in the bathroom for nearly an hour, until it calmed down.

However, once they opened the door, Cush, went on another rampage, forcing the pair to lock themselves in their bedroom for more than an hour.

Then they called 911 and animal control officers arrived and removed Cush.

“She’s a good cat, but I’m scared to bring her home…I can’t have that happen again,” Teresa said.

Kush has been quarantined for ten days. At that point the couple will have to make a decision about what should happen to the cat. They say they do not want to have her put down.

Karen

I’ve owned Russian Blues for years, show quality cats, not this pet quality or mixed Russian Blue pictured here, and they are quiet, loving, sweet, highly intelligent cats. The first Russian Blue I owned was 3/4 pure, and she would scratch an outstretched hand of someone she didn’t know every now and then. She was left alone every day while I worked with no stimulation, and not other pets for company. I since now realize how stressed out that made this intelligent cat. My suspicion is that this couple is doing the same to their cat, plus the added stress of not being a spayed female going into heat all of the time. My suggestion is that all cats should be indoors for their safety and health, but to leave a Russian Blue alone all day is a very bad idea. They need to get another cat, or even a small dog for companionship to this intelligent animal. They need to play with her when home, feathers on a stick, furry mice to chase, and they need to have a somewhat quiet stable environment for her, No frequent large parties with lots of strangers at the house. Leaving a TV going while gone during the day is a good idea, too. If they cannot take the time to lavish lots of hugs and pats to this animal, then they need to find her a better home, one that treats this loving intelligent cat the way it deserves to be treated. Russian Blues are not attack cats. This cat is sending a very clear message that it is not bonded to it’s owners and is stressed out and bored to death.

Karen

I just found the 911 call posted on the news. Here is the reason this cat freaked out. They had her shut in the bathroom all day. She was mad at the husband. I would start there. These people don’t know how to take care of a cat, I would bet the husband has kicked her, pushed her with his foot, yelled at her, smacked her or otherwise abused the cat. I hope the cat can be rehomed elsewhere.
DELAND, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) –
Saturday night just after 7 p.m., Teresa Gregory, from DeLand, called 911 saying her cat, Kush, attacked her and her husband.

In the 911 call, she said:

“She tore me and my husband up, cuz we left her in the bathroom all day, so I let her out and she was OK. Then, she saw my husband and she freaked.”

“I got her out of the bedroom, and now she’s in my living room and I can’t get out. She’s got us trapped in our bedroom.”